Page 19 - North State Parent September 2023

NORTH STATE PARENT FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE FALL/WINTER 2023 BIRTHDAY LOCATION IDEAS
How To Throw an Eco-Friendly Birthday Party Your Kids Will Love BY SANDI SCHWARTZ
Children are learning at an early age how important it is to protect our environment. Whether they hear about climate change,
plastic pollution, animal extinction or other critical environmental issues from school or media, it is now part of their daily experience. What better way to show them how to make a difference than by choosing eco-friendly options when throwing a birthday party? Here are some fun and easy ways to green your child’s next celebration.
Invitations – go paperless
Sending out paper invitations can be quite wasteful. We can make a big difference by sending out electronic invitations instead. Here is what you can save by going paperless:
• Trees. An estimated 18 million acres of forest are lost
each year. We need trees because they produce oxygen,
protecting the planet from further global warming.
• Fuel consumption. It takes fuel to deliver all those
invitations.
• Air pollution. Pulp and paper mills are among the
worst polluters to air, water and land of any industry.
• Greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. The pulp and paper industry is the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases among U.S. manufacturing industries. Additionally, paper decomposing in landfills
produces methane, another greenhouse gas.
Party Goods – Avoid Plastic and Styrofoam
You can make an impact by the types of party goods you choose. Avoid using plastic or Styrofoam
utensils, plates and cups. Instead, look for paper (recycled is best), bamboo, or even plates and utensils made from palm leaves. Don’t serve drinks with plastic straws. If the children need straws for neatness, look for paper straws or stainless-steel straws that you can wash afterwards. If possible, use real cloth tablecloths instead of plastic throwaway ones. Finally, choose napkins made from recycled materials, which are now readily available online and at major retailers.
Food – consider health, safety and packaging
Food can be tricky since so many kids have different likes and dislikes. Plus, there are allergies and other dietary restrictions to consider. When planning an eco- friendly party, consider the health and safety of food in addition to its impact on the environment. Opt for natural and organic products whenever you can since these products don’t contain harmful chemicals and are better for our health and the environment overall.
Try to avoid foods wrapped in excessive plastic; look for those sold in paper boxes or foil so they can be recycled. You can also buy snacks in bulk and wrap them yourself in cute cloth pouches or small paper boxes to give out to the kids. Finally, when you store your food or package it up to transport it to a party, be sure to avoid plastic containers and plastic wrap by using alternatives like glass or stainless-steel containers.
Decorations – avoid junky plastic
Every party needs some fun decorations to set the tone and highlight a theme. Unfortunately, many of the
traditional decorations are mass-produced using junky plastic. Here are some ways to still jazz up your party by being gentler on our environment:
• Choose décor that can double as giveaways at the end
of the party.
• Look for paper decorations instead of those made of
plastic.
• Make some of your own decorations by reusing
materials you have around the house, such as last year’s wrapping paper, gift bags, bows and ribbons. The options are endless!
• Go natural. Think about decorating more naturally by using items like plants, flowers, fruit, twigs and branches, sand, shells, pinecones, leaves, popcorn garland and fish tanks. This approach can work well with certain birthday themes.
• Shop second hand. Check out local thrift stores, websites like freecycle.org and garage sales for some treasures that can serve as lovely decorations. When you choose to reuse, you are reducing plastic waste and keeping items from ending up in the landfill.
• Trade with friends and family. Another way to cut back on new decorations is to organize a decoration swap with friends and family. Instead of throwing away decorations right after a birthday party, save them for an upcoming swap so they can get reused to bring joy to another child.
By making just a few of these tweaks to your birthday plans, you can inspire your children and their friends to make a real difference in their impact on the environment. Ó
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